Group reiterates commitment to working on the front lines along with local, state, and national allies to protect the voice and vote of every American
ATLANTA — Fair Fight Action—the national voting rights organization founded by Stacey Abrams—today released a statement responding to Senate obstructionism on the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act, as 52 Senators refused to support a rule change that would allow the bill to advance. The group also reiterated their commitment to working with local, state, and national allies fighting on the front lines to protect the freedom to vote.
Fair Fight Action Executive Director Cianti Stewart-Reid released the following statement:
“Today’s vote is a reminder that we don’t elect saviors—we elect servants. Sometimes these servants fail us, as they did today—despite the best efforts of Sens. Schumer, Warnock, Ossoff, and other Democrats who have been leading the charge on voting rights. But you can be sure of this: Fair Fight Action and our allies on the front lines of the fight to protect our freedom to vote will not waver.
Congress has an obligation to protect voters. Today, Senators Manchin and Sinema joined their Republican colleagues in failing to uphold one of the most fundamental tenets of their duty as public servants. In the face of an unprecedented onslaught of voter suppression and election sabotage efforts by far right anti-democratic extremists, these Senators chose to ignore the pleas of their constituents. They have chosen not to serve them. By failing to deliver critical voting rights legislation supported by Americans across party lines, these Senators have cemented their complicity in silencing our voices.
The failure of the United States Senate to pass the Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act is unacceptable. We stand with you in our collective frustration, and our desire to do better. We cannot tolerate barriers to voting for voters of color, veterans, voters with disabilities, rural voters, new Americans, or young people. We cannot tolerate efforts to remove local election officials or harass them to prevent them from counting every vote. Instead, we must join together at the local, state, and federal level to protect the voice and vote of every American.
History has already made clear that in moments like this, it is up to us to carry the fight forward. We have faced and overcome staggering odds before, and we will do so again in 2022. As Senator Warnock said, we cannot turn away. We must have the courage to fight for one another, and we will work as a community to fulfil the promise of our democracy and ensure that the voice of every American is heard.”
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